Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The milky duskiness of early morning light filtered through tall, narrow windows in the outer wall focusing on the small sitting area. In the ancient Castle Bryggja cold radiated from the stone walls warmed only near a massive stone fireplace. The ceiling arced above supported by strong, wooden beams black with age. My eyes settled on the interviewer. She was a tall woman with auburn hair pulled back in a knot at the base of her skull, now sitting across from me. I tucked a strand of my short, curly hair behind one ear.

"Tell me about yourself," she said, crossing her nylon encased legs and gently tapping a foot in the air.

"Well, I'm 17 and a junior in high school. Senior now I guess since it's summer. I love Coca-cola!" I added the last in a rush with a slight giggle. Nerves. Wooden bowls full of fading flower petals sat on wooden chests and tables placed throughout the room, filling it with the faint scent of English roses.

"I see." She smiled at me. "How did you learn about demons?"

"I began dreaming about them when I was 10. I didn't think that they were real...just dreams." I paused not quite sure what else to say. Looking at a lovely, if disturbing, oil painting of a fox, trapped at the base of a tree, surrounded by horses and hunting dogs, staring out in terror, I knew how it felt.

"And that made you think you should kill demons?"

"Well, no but when I saw the video of an old priest, I recognized him from when he'd been young in one of my dreams. So I called him...he asked for my help and I couldn't seem to help myself. I just knew I had to go to Rome."

"Was your trip to Rome a success?"

"It was...unexpected in several ways. Silver Knight explains it in detail."

"All right, then, thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. Good luck in your endeavors with demons."

I nodded, smiling in relief that it was over. I hopped up and headed out the enormous, metal-studded, double doors leading to the hall and the way out.

Grateful that she had not yet taken down the old curtains for a trip to the cleaners, she quickly crossed the room to pull them shut. As she reached up to grab the left curtain, the firefly flew swiftly toward her and stopped less than a foot from the window. Beth’s hand froze. She was terrified, yet fascinated.

“What are you?” she whispered.

As if in response, the firefly swooped and danced. After a moment, it began to repeat a pattern – up to the window slowly, followed by a swift lunge down toward the large boulder near the edge of the forest. Over and over again it dove, as if beckoning Beth.

“No!” Beth said firmly, and she drew the curtains closed violently. Unfortunately, they were several inches too short to cover the windows. “Damn.” Beth shivered as a deep chill went through her body. She grabbed her large blue sweatshirt and climbed into bed, leaving her three-way bedside lamp on its lowest setting of twenty-five watts. For a long time, she stared at the ceiling. She pulled the comforter way up to her chin and grasped it like a security blanket. She glanced at the clock every now and again – 11:16 p.m., 12:01 a.m., 12:48 a.m., and 1:19 a.m. Sometime between 1:30 and 2:00, she fell asleep.

She was beset by disturbing dreams; rapid firing images flashed before her eyes – a car screeching down a country road, a yellow duck, her father’s face. She awoke with a start. Why am I dreaming about my father after all of these years?

~end

Author Bio
On slow, snowy days in her Colorado home, Meira Pentermann enjoys cozying up on the couch with a novel. Naturally, snow is not a requirement; neither is the couch. In fact, she sees no reason not to indulge in reading three-hundred-and-sixty-five days a year. Apocalyptic science fiction, mysteries, and young adult titles top her Kindle list, but legal thrillers and chik-lit make an appearance now and then.

When not absorbed in writing or reading, Meira enjoys life’s little moments with her family – the love and devotion of her black lab, the quiet wisdom of her artistic twenty-one-year-old, the trials and triumphs of her petite sixth grader, and the unlimited encouragement offered by her Dutch husband.

Meira strives to write stories that deliver the unexpected. She prefers down-to-earth characters that look and behave like regular folks. The prom queen and Adonis take a backseat to reclusive, soul-searching heroines and quirky, introverted gentlemen.

When Beth LaMonte rents a cottage on the coast of Maine, she wishes only to withdraw and paint. A mysterious ball of light disturbs her peace and leads her to a secret beach where she finds the diary of a girl who disappeared in 1975. Now Beth is on a mission, not only to bury her own past, but to put to rest the spirit of Firefly Beach.

PeekAbook:

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): creepy critter
Great mystery/paranormal read for the summer. The story leisurely reveals a tale which takes place in a small town that keeps your attention to the end.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising

* I will email winners for mailing addresses within two weeks.
Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D

Wanted: Dead or Undead (The Zombie West Series, #1) by Angela ScottWinner:Sullivan McPig of Pearls Cast Before a McPig

~*~

* to see the original giveaway offer, click on the prize title links

* I will email winners for mailing addresses within two weeks.
Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Teeny’s logic made sense to a point. If I wanted my life to be better, I needed to make some changes, and high school was the perfect place for me to do that. But I wasn’t convinced that a makeover was the answer. Changing my life couldn’t be as easy as changing my wardrobe, could it? After all, my face, my body, and my personality would be the same. Avery would still recognize me; she would still see me as the “little mouse.”

My anxiety began to rise as I walked away from my safety net. I knew that I wouldn’t have made it through junior high without Teeny and Grouper; they always had my back. But now things had to change. I couldn’t lean on them as I had done in the past. It was time for me to stand on my own two feet, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that yet.

We walked in silence for a while, trying to shake the negative energy that had engulfed us during our encounter with the devil. I felt as if I had been hit by a bus, and I had only spent a few minutes with that woman. I couldn’t help wondering what it was like to live with her. Did she talk to Avery like that all the time? What about her husband? Was he a victim of hers as well? Or was he her partner in crime, helping his wife strip Avery of any self worth and dignity that she might still possess? No wonder Avery was such a jerk. How could she have a kind view of the world when the people who are supposed to love her the most, treat her so badly?

It was a relief when Avery was with Cal because then she would ignore me. I could only guess that Cal didn’t want to upset Marco, so he kept her in line. For a short time, both Cal and Avery kept to themselves at lunch and outside of school. The mall, the picture, and the accident seemed to have been forgotten. I was starting to think that all the crazy drama was over. But our two groups only had a brief span of peaceful coexistence before our lives grew increasingly intertwined, causing a chain of events that would alter our futures forever.

Author Bio
I live with my husband and three teenagers in the Chicagoland burbs. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry, I worked at a nuclear power plant for five years. I then left my career to stay at home with my three kids.

Seemingly, overnight, I went from being crazy-busy to having way too much time on my hands. With my husband working long hours and my kids pursuing their own lives, I had to reinvent myself. So, I decided to write that book I always wanted to write. Changing My Wardrobe is my first novel.

Lindsey, a high school freshman, views her new school as a place to start over. With the help of her friends, she hopes that a change in her wardrobe will prompt a change in her image. She has some success until her long-time nemesis, Avery, reminds Lindsey of her place. Without asking for help from the adults, the main character and her friends struggle to manage the bullying. Despite their efforts, tensions rise, and people get hurt.

Back cover:
Incoming freshman, Lindsey Ames, wants to take Italian, and she wants to join the National Honor Society.

She wants a new image, and she wants better clothes.

She wants Avery to stop tormenting her, and she wants Marco to ask her out.

She wants Jocelyn to go away, but she wants Grouper to be happy.

She wants to save Teeny's reputation, but she doesn't want to lose everything.

Will Lindsey find the courage to stand up to her enemies before it's too late?

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): garanimals
The storyline follows "A day in the life of a teen..." kind of path that uncovers ugly parts of life and people along the way. The twist at the end of the story packs a punch. boo hoo.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising

Friday, May 4, 2012

Fredamans: Kevin, where did you get the idea for Zombie Fairy Tales?
Kevin: I had the idea for Zombie Cinderella about five years ago, but never did anything with it. It was one of those random 3 a.m. kind of ideas that just sort of stuck with me. Then last fall I had the urge to write an anthology series, and started coming up with ideas for more fairy tale retellings.

Doodle: How did you go about picking which fairy tales you would zombify first?
Kevin: When I first decided to do the series, I sat down with a few books of fairy tales and made a list of any that might work. Some I had great ideas for right away, and others were stories that I really liked in the original, but wouldn’t fit in with the rules of my universe. (There’s no magic in my stories, beyond the zombie virus itself.)

M.A.D.: Do you plan to zombify Rumpelstiltskin, or is that just wishful thinking on my part?
Kevin: Rumpelstiltskin is one of those stories I really love that I couldn’t make work without magic. I’m not against doing it in the future, if I get an idea for it that feels in line with the original, but at this time it’s not on the list.

Rachel at thejeepdiva: Are you going to be doing twelve fairy tales or more?
Kevin: The original plan was to do twelve fairy tales within the series. But since then, I’ve had a few more ideas, and I’m planning on three additional holiday-themed fairy tales that will come out later this year.

Michelle @ The True Book Addict: What is your favorite thing about zombies? Specifically, it's obvious you love them, but why do you love them?
Kevin: I’ve always been more interested in the villains of the stories, and I really like movies and books that develop sympathy for them by showing things more from their perspective. Zombies are always portrayed as mindless hunters, but what if they had a deeper inner life than that, and simply couldn’t express it? I suppose that’s the fascination: I think of zombies as these creatures that may do these horrible things, but are not horrible people. Frightening, yes, but with a sense of justice.

Dianne: I'd like to ask who did the cover art because all of them are gorgeous!
Kevin: Thank you! My boyfriend David Gardner is a professional photographer, and he has done all of my covers so far. We also have a friend that is a very talented fashion designer, Desiato Khan, who provides us with the creepy costumes. I’m very lucky to have such talented people around me, as it allows me focus pretty much exclusively on writing.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

As I reach for the door handle fear causes me to freeze. I know this interview is a bad idea, but all in the name of promotion right?

So I open the door and I make sure to drop a rock in the door’s path to ensure the door can’t be shut all the way. That way it can’t be potentially locked or barred.

I finally notice the room and its contents. In the center of the room is a simple table and chair. Both are situated in the path of sunlight from the only window. On the table is a Remington Standard Typewriter. Next to the typewriter is a cup of tea with a spoon on the saucer. Seated in the chair was the subject of my interview. She had her hands poised over the typewriter ready to transcribe everything we said. Her face and body language seemed to speak of polite society and decorum, but I knew better.

Considering the hell I’ve put this woman through, I suspect she may have ulterior motives for agreeing to this interview.

H: What the bloody hell are you doing here?

I think I’m the one that’s supposed to be asking the questions.

H: Why do you get to ask the questions?

B/c that’s what I was supposed to do for the blog… but now I have to explain what a blog is. So just go with it.

H: Well, go on with it.

How do you feel about a comic being made about your misadventures?

H: What do you mean a comic is being made about my adventures? They aren’t misadventures, are they? I mean I’m still alive right?

Crap, I mean an illustrated penny dreadful. Well, if you have a positive outlook on things then we can call them adventures.

H: That’s better.

So what do you think of your adventures being made into fiction then?

H: Am I at least proportional in these ones? I’m pretty sure I was a buxom milkmaid in one of Harwood’s versions, which was fairly inappropriate.

Oh, that. Well for the uhm full picture we do have excerpts of Harwood’s text, but it’s mostly accurate as we can get. But you can’t blame me for the things that do happen to you that are less than flattering. I actually feel a tad guilty about all that.

H: I don’t think I believe you… if you really do feel guilty, then why do you keep making things so dreadful, anyway? You have the power to stop this you know.

But I’m trying to appeal the readers first and foremost. And most readers like drama, so in the name of drama you must suffer. So in a way, your sacrifice is helping plenty of readers escape their own lives and woes. So it’s all worthwhile in the end.

H: Maybe for them! At this point, I have to consider surviving a good day.

Okay that is total BS. You suffer for other’s enjoyment. If you want something more out of your life, then you are going to have to make it better. No one else has a vested interest in your happy ending. They want to see a strong woman to prevail over all obstacles in an ever escalating spiral.

H: They’ll at least get the strong woman bit then. With any luck, they’ll get the prevailing part too.

So back to the original question, your only thought about a book about you is that you want the bust size to be correct?

H: No, no (although that would be preferable, please). I just hope that the readers find my suffering to be suitably entertaining for you.

Are you being sarcastic? But oh look we ran out of room/time because of all your digressions so we’ll just have to end the interview here. (/run)

(And with that I quickly get up and leave the room before her benevolent mask drops and I am deep in trouble).

H: Fairly sarcastic, yes. Oh well, good day then? (…bloody coward… can’t even survive an interview with his own character.)

(I hear her words in the background, but I’m already halfway down the stairs, looking for the nearest exit).

Cub Reporter Henrietta Tilney is sent on her first assignment, to interview accused mass murderer Lord Beowulf Harwood. But young Henrietta quickly finds out there is much more to this story and its subject Lord Harwood. Will this plucky young reporter get her story and survive with her life intact?

A Penny Dreadful in three parts!

Written by David Doub
Art by Sarah Elkins
Colors by Danielle Alexis
Letters by Joamette Gil

PeekAbook:

page 1

page 8

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): feisty
Rating: 5
Great start to the 3 part series! I read the ebook version of this story and loved the colors and illustrations as much as I would have a print copy.

This Victorian Gothic storyline had a paranormal and steampunk feel to it. I am very curious to see how the rest plays out.

--~ Comic Book (digital version) Giveaway courtesy of author ~--

WIN a copy of this Comic eBook!
for 5 winners

Open to all.

Offer ends: May 13, 2012 --> extended to May 31

TO DO:

TELL ME...

What was the last comic book you read?

IF none, which one of these genres would you be interested in experiencing? (pick one)

Aero Studios is hosting a Space-Book contest. How far away from the launch site do you think the book landed? 20 miles? 40? 180? You and your readers can participate in the contest and win a free copy of The Merman and The Moon Forgotten and a Kindle Fire here. (offer ends May 5)

Wandering the dark hallways of the medieval castle, I find myself face to face with a stone sphinx. Its teeth are bared, its claws are raised, and its wings arch ten feet above its head, seemingly pointing to a large wooden door. I press my shoulder against the heavy door and it opens with a loud creak.

Rows of books line all but one of the walls from ceiling to floor. To my right, a 60-foot mosaic of stained glass windows tells a tale of plagues and monsters and curses. Sitting at a long table under the windows, almost hidden behind a huge stack of books, is a boy with dark hair and dark eyes, maybe fourteen years old. He doesn't acknowledge me.

I slowly trace the shelves of books, brushing my fingers over the brittle spines, some so old and worn that no text remains. Those that I can make out have bizarre titles that center around the occult, prophecies, and mythical creatures. I pause in front of the boy.

"Hi, I'm Dave." I offer my hand.

"Tony," he grunts, and still doesn't look up.

He's studying the pages of a dusty tome entitled The Modern Curse of the Ancient Monster. Illustrations of rampaging beasts and falling stars destroying villages are interspersed with faded text that is barely legible. Tony scrunches his face in focused frustration.

I lean forward until my head is almost touching his, and peer at the upside-down pages.

"Can I help?"

Tony lifts his eyes for the first time. A cold terror fills them.

"Can you take away a curse?"

I stumble backward and stammer, "You…you think you're cursed?"

He raises his hands, showing me his palms, which look perfectly normal.

"I've made scrolls burn, walls collapse, and rocks bleed."

I feel the weight of the bookshelves pressing hard into my back. Suddenly I wish I was in any room of the castle but this one. Tony calmly returns to his studies.

"I need to figure out how to stop it before things get worse."

My hands are trembling. I take two cautious steps toward the door with the sphinx when I notice a strange shadow moving up the colorful windows behind Tony. The glass explodes in a violent rainbow, and a terrifying roar shakes the entire room.

Dave Becker is the author of The Faustian Host, a new young adult, paranormal thriller. After losing his family and his home, 14-year-old Tony Marino is forced to move from Florida to Massachusetts to attend Kalos Academy, an unconventional school for gifted children. Strange things begin to happen the day he arrives, and soon stories of plagues, monsters, and mystical objects surround him. Refusing to believe superstitions, Tony struggles to explain the occurrences logically, until he comes face to face with a satanic cult determined to bring about the end of the world.

Plymouth Rock is bleeding. Day has turned to night. Hundred-pound hailstones level buildings. The small town of Clement seems cursed, and the residents know who's to blame: the new kid, Tony Marino.

After losing his family and his home, 14-year-old Tony is forced to move from Florida to Massachusetts to attend Kalos Academy, an unconventional school for gifted children. Strange things begin to happen the day he arrives, and soon stories of plagues, monsters, and mystical objects surround him. Refusing to believe superstitions, Tony struggles to explain the occurrences logically, until he comes face to face with a satanic cult determined to bring about the end of the world.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--

WIN a copy of a signed, paperback copy! The novel is only available for purchase as an ebook.
ONLY 10 PROMOTIONAL PAPERBACKS EXIST, SO THIS IS A WONDERFULLY RARE OPPORTUNITY.

Years ago, on the TV show Unsolved Mysteries, there was a story about a boy who claimed to have a pre-birth memory of choosing his mother. It gave me the willies and stuck with me! When brainstorming for a fresh paranormal angle, I decided to weave this with the cultural symbol of childbirth, the stork, and invent a clan of white witches charged with pairing souls and mothers.

@Vivien
“Which character is the most frustrating to write?”

Hmm. Possibly Kat’s dad. He’s a good guy but self-centered and immature (he’d cheated on his wife, after all). Still, Kat loves him unconditionally. It was, therefore, a tough balance to show him flaws and all but still have Kat adore him. My intent was for his character to have an arc that spans all three books. He’s not perfect at the end of book three, but he has grown. (And his character allowed me to explore the concept of old soul versus new soul.)

@Stephanie
“How hard was it to choose your titles?”

STORK was my original title, and I still love it. It also serves as the name for the trilogy. FROST was my title for book two all along. Had I known that two other YA books entitled FROST would be released around the same period, I would have changed it. Titles are not copyrighted, by the way. FLOCK was more difficult to encapsulate in a single word (ideally five letter or at least one syllable). It had the working title TIDE for quite a while. Originally, Candlewick had the idea of putting a guy (Marik) on the cover. TIDE, therefore, made sense for a hunky merman. When it was decided to go with Penny (Kat’s best friend) on the cover, we needed a new title. We batted around a few things before settling on FLOCK, which I love, by the way.

@Carl
“Now that you’ve used a blonde, a brunette and a redhead as your cover images, will your next cover model have green hair?

Love the question, but the answer is no. For several reasons. First off, there is no book four planned for the series. I think Kat and her friends are tired of my snooping around. Secondly, authors don’t have control over cover art. This is an area that is contractually signed away to the publisher (unless you’re J.K., Stephanie, Suzanne, or someone with their clout).

@Giada
“What made you decide to write a retelling of Pride and Prejudice?”

@M.A.D.
“Do you decide on what your book title will be before you begin to write, or do you leave it until later?”

I almost always have a working title. So far, of my four published books, two titles have made it to publication. STORK and FROST are unchanged. FLOCK was originally TIDE (see my reply to Stephanie for more details), and THE MCCLOUD HOME FOR WAYWARD GIRLS was originally WAYWARD.

@ThesePaperWings
“I saw that Jane Austin is really what brought the reader out in her. I don't know much about Jane Austin, but I never really thought of her as a supernatural writer, in fact none of the books she listed in her bio section really seemed to have any supernatural elements in them, so I was just wondering what made her want to write Stork, a supernatural book?”

I’m not sure there was a paranormal genre back in Jane Austen’s day. Anyway, no, Jane Austen did not write about the supernatural; she wrote contemporary (to her, of course) fiction with a touch of satire. My adult novels are in this same genre. For my YA stuff, I tap into my more spiritual side. I believe in it all, by the way: ghosts, angels, UFOs, Big Foot.

@Llehn
“What is your writing mantra in 15 words or less?”

Write what you like to read.

@Enbrethiliel
“Can you recommend some titles or authors that your teen sons love to read?”

My fifteen year old likes anything by Darren Shan, the I AM NUMBER FOUR series by Pittacus Lore, and Anthony Horowitz.

My seventeen year old likes his reads a little darker: Stephen King,

@marybelle
“Is there a genre you would not contemplate writing?”

A bunch, actually. I don’t read enough mysteries or thrillers to tackle those genres. Horror, forget it. I like to sleep at night.

@Sarah Elizabeth
“How did Wendy come up with this unique idea?”

See first question (from @Doodle).

@Bridget
“I have never read any books that have storks in them. How did you come up with the idea for this series?”

The stork angle was a product of my imagination. Once I wanted to explore unborn souls, the cultural symbol of childbirth, the bundle-bearing bird, came to mind. This is partly why my main character’s hair is white blonde. Her hair color also symbolizes her status as a white (or good) witch and is consistent with a Scandinavian background.

@Avry15
“Where does Wendy get ideas on the book’s title? Does it have something to do with words that connects to the main theme?”

Titles are so important yet so subjective. Personally, I think there should be a word that encapsulates the story and is memorable. Not easy to do or describe, I know. LIKE WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a good example. The word “elephant” in the title captures the circus theme, and it’s different, thus easy to remember. For me, ambiguous or

@Suz
“How did you decide what would be on the cover for Stork?”

I didn’t. Candlewick Press did. Contractually they own the book jacket, image and copy. I have liked all my covers so no complaints from me.

@Disincentive
“Favourite cover of your books?”

That’s kind of like asking me to pick a favorite child. That I couldn’t do, but I think FLOCK is my favorite. Possibly because it’s my shiny new toy, but I think it’s very dramatic.

@Veronica W
“Favorite series?”

Harry Potter. It changed literature for children and young adults forever. And it’s just plain old bloody brilliant.

signup to win ONE of these books
Wendy has thrown in a signed copy of Stork
! HUZZAH !
so there will be 2 winners for this giveaway
- one for a signed copy of Stork from the author
- one for winner's pick

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Greta: Wow! What a big boss ass castle this is! It's so nice of you Sister Wolf to come here with me tonight.

Sister Wolf: Growwwwwwwwl

Greta: Well, that was an unpleasant thing to say! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Oh right... I'm kinda your mother considering I invented you and all.

Sister Wolf: Grrrrrrr

Greta: Gah! You're such the conservationist! So, vvb said we were suppose to meet her in the Banquet Hall for a moonlit feast and since you're in wolf form at the moment would you mind if I asked you a few questions?

Sister Wolf: Grrgrrgrrowl.... I suppose I can comply.

Greta: Most awesome! Well, I've always wondered where it is you live.

Sister Wolf: Inside the Girl's head.

Greta: Yeah yeah yeah, I get that you live inside Piper's head and all but where exactly do you stay when you're locked inside there?

Sister Wolf: Deep embedded in the thick forest of the darkest bits of her mind.

Greta: Wow! That's pretty deep. Can you get cell phone reception in there?

Sister Wolf: Grrowwwwwllllrrrr!

Greta: Ok ok !! No need to get snippy! I was just curios. Alright, we just need to take a left by the suit of armor. Almost there. I hope your hungry. Speaking of hunger, why are you so obsessed with eating Ryder?

Sister Wolf: The boy, his blood speaks to me. It makes me want to dig my teeth into his supple flesh.

Greta: Don't you worry about getting hoodie between your fangs?

Sister Wolf: *sizes Greta up and drools

Greta: Hey now! You put those big eyes away. Oh look! We made it! Yo vvb! Thanks for inviting us to your most awesome digs! I hope you don't mind but I brought my character bud with me like you asked.... just put down some newspaper cuz she's totally not housebroken.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Jessica Day George
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

So I sat down this weekend with Princess Petunia in a room at the Old Fortress, high in the Westfalian Mountains. The room is furnished in older style, with much heavy, dark wood, and stiff embroidery, but it’s very clean and the spring sunlight is pouring through the windows.

The princess was wearing a charming gown of blue muslin which goes well with her blue eyes, and had a thick white shawl over her shoulders, a necessary precaution in the ancient, drafty fortress. Folded over a chair nearby is a red velvet cloak with silver bullion embroidery around the edges of the hood. It caught my attention because the hem of the cloak looked rather singed, and there was a black-edged hole about the size of a walnut in the middle of it.

Tearing my eyes off the cloak, I begin.

JDG: “So tell me, your Highness, what brings you this far from Bruch?”

P: “Oh, some of my sisters and I needed a bit of a rest, so we came here to get away from it all for a while. Jonquil hasn’t been well, and Pansy, Lilac, and Orchid definitely needed . . . some quiet.”

JDG: “May I ask what that is you’re knitting?”

P: “It’s a scarf for a friend of mine.” She holds up the long, green strip of wool.

JDG: “A gentleman friend?”

P: smiles demurely, but does not answer.

JDG: “I was wondering if you would care to elaborate on rumors that—Good heavens, what is that?”

P: “What?”

JDG: “Over there, on the table.”

P: “Oh, it’s a wolf mask made of leather.” She shrugs and returns to her knitting.

JDG: “Where did it come from? Why do you have such at thing?”

P: “It’s just a little something I picked up on my recent journey through the Westfalian Forest.”

JDG: “Speaking of which, are the rumors about the Grand Duchess Volenskaya true?”